Door mounting for autoclaves and the like



Feb. 5, ,19557 E. H. sTRATToN ETAL 2,780,384

DOOR MOUNTING FOR AUYTocLAvEs AND THE LIKE Filed Deo. 1o, 1954 3 sheets-sheet 1L T 9'A l. U-

' INVENToRs 'EDGAR H., sTRATToN f BYHOWARD M. FISHER S ATTORNEYS E. H. STRATTON ET AL DOOR MOUNTING FOR AUTOCLAVES AND THE LKE Feb. 5, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 10, 1954 INVENToRs.

EDGAR H. STRATTON HOWARD M. FISHER @Mm (Q @Mm ATTORNEYS Feb. 5, -1957 E. H. sTRAT'roN ETAL- 2,780,384

DooR MOUNTING FOR AUTocLAvEs AND THE: LIKE Filed Dec. 1o, 1954 A s sheets-sheets Flc. 5-

` 4INVENTORS. EDGAR H. STRATTON BYHOWARD M. FISHER ATTORNEYS nited DOR--MOUNTING FR AUTOCLAVES AND THE LIKE Application December 10,1954, Serial No. 474,502

7 Claims. (Cl; 220-38) Thisinvention relates to door mountings for autoclaves, and the like, and especially-to such doors as are engageable with the autoclave by sliding movement, The invention isespecially useful in the construction of autoclaves, vuleanizersv and processing lvessels adapted to be operative under iiuid pressure or vacuums.

Heretofore ithas been proposed to provide an autoclave and a door therefor in which a circular opening was provided having an annular sealing face with an inwardly-directed, overhanging lip or flange about substantially 180 degrees of its circumferencey and an outwardly-directed flange about the remainder of its circumference for cooperation with a door havingv complementary inwardly and outwardly directed anges of semieircular extent by sliding engagement in a direction latera1 of the opening.

While the` lateral sliding door has been successfully employed where means was provided for moving the door completely to one side of the door opening by a single straight-line movement, the removal of the door by slight lateral movement followed by a swinging or hinging movement has heretofore presented certain diiculties in bringing'the door into proper relation by a swinging movement for slidably engaging the autoclave and such misalignment has resulted in damage tothe sealing faces.

Such combined swinging and sliding movements ofthe doors have also presented difficulties, especially where the doors were of great Weight.

Furthermore, it has been found difficult to provide autoclave door rings of large dimensions from castings as the material was found to be not of uniform consistency and to contain blow holes andy other defects.

This invention aims to overcome the foregoing. and other diiculties.

Itis an object of the invention to provide a swing. type door mounting which will permit sliding ofthe door in and out of locking engagement .without damage thereto and in exact alignment withy the door opening.

Another object of the invention is to providefor power operated sliding movement of the door along its hinging axls.

A further object of the invention is to lock the door securely in place against accidental displacement and to provide an interlock-between the movements of the door and the movements of the locking means.

Still another object of the invention is to provide for forming the locking and sealing members of rolled steel material with a minimum amount of machining.

These and other objects will appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

Of the drawings:

Fig. l is an end elevation of an autoclave and its door construction in accordance with and embodying the invention, the closed position of the door being shown in full lines and the raised or unlocked position thereof being shown in dot and dash lines;-

Fig. 2. is `a side elevation vthereof in closed position,

tes Patent ice thefraised i position being indicated.r by vdot andA dash. lines,

partsioff vthe autoclave being broken vaway and parts-V shownv in section;

Fig. 3 isa sectional viewitakenion.lines3L--3z of Fig. 1; Fig-4 isa detailvperspective view ofi the meeting ends ofthe locking members; and? Fig. 5 is-a valveand piping diagram of the liftingand-A lockingk mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, the nurneraiA 210 designates-v theicylindrical. body.l off-the autoclave formed `of sheety steel andflthe4 numeral 11- designates the doorbody of 'domed About the open` end of 'the cylindrical body-5.10aring 12 of rolled steelVv shape also formed from `sheet-v steel'.

is` provided welded in endless form. The ringV 1.2 is counterbored at 113--to/.receiye-I the wall of'the body 10 whichis weldedlztof the ringas at` 14:` The ring 12- isl also formedwwith. an` outwardlyopen :groove l-forreceiving a lock ring member 16 and with a true sealing face 17 havinga circumferential'groove/18.for receiving-an annularffsealing gasket .19.. 'The lockl ring member 1-'6 is off'itsparalflehangesseated in the groove 23` aboutI thel upper: halfof'theA door and boltedy orwelded to the ring 21., its.- oppositexiiange 4beingadapted to `engage to the rIhe ends of-the ring `member-sl 16 and 24l are formed with 'knuCk-lesZS, 26- and- 27, respectively,Y and extend past= each othertin intercalated relation, as seen in Fig. 4 at each side of the autoclave for receiving locking pins, the knuckles being formed with apertures 28, 29 in alignment for this purpose. The door is adapted, as hereinafter described to be swung into alignment with the opening inthe autoclave but'offset verticallythereof as indi cated by the dot-and-dash positions in Figs. l andv 2, and may then be lowered into axial alignment as indicated` by the full lines with the iianges of the locking members engaging in the grooves ofthe opposite rings.

For mounting the door for swinging movement, and for providing vertical movement of thel door in the plane ofthe opening, alpair of hinge brackets 30, 3,1 are secured to the autoclave at one` side of the opening, and a pair of hinge brackets 32, 33 are secured to the door. A single-acting uid pressure operated cylinder 34 issecured to lower hinge bracket 30 of the autoclave. Its piston4 35. is xed to aV piston rod or hinge pin 36 and extends upwardly through bearings 37, 38 mounted on the lower and upper brackets 30, 31 respectively, of the autoclave for vertical movement therethrough.

The door hinge brackets 32, 33 have. aligned openings 40, 41 therethrough of larger diameter than the rod 36. A multiplicity of set screws 42 extend radially ofthe opening 4t) through the wall of the bracket thereabout and engage the rod or hinge pin 36 for adjusting the door. A similaradjusting means comprising radial set screws 43 are mounted on the bracket 33. A cap plate 44l is secured to the bracket 33 and spans the opening 41 in engagement with the upper end of rod 36 for sustaining the weight of thel door. By adjustment of screws y42, 43 the door may be adjusted axially of the autoclave to align its sealing face with that of the -autoclave and also radially of the opening in a lateral direction to align it laterally with the opening in the autoclave for swinging movement about the axis of the rod 36 as a pivot.

A pipe 46 at the lower end of cylinder 34 may be connected to a supply of pressure uid whereby the rod 36 and with it the door may be raised by pressure and lowered by dead weight from the full line position of Figs. l and 2 to and from the dot-and-dash line position thereof. ln the dot-and-dash line position, the fianges of the lock ring members will be disengaged from their mating locking grooves and the door may be swung about the axis of rod 36.

For locking the door, a pair of double acting pressure fluid operated cylinders, such as 48, are mounted at diametrically opposite positions on the autoclave with their pistons 49, 50 in alignment with the apertures 28, 29 of the locking ring members. Pipes 51, 52 are connected lto opposite ends of the cylinders for connection alternately through a suitable control valve 61, to a source of fluid pressure and an exhaust for advancing and retracting the rods 49.

If desired, the cylinders 34 and 4S may be so connected to the fluid pressure supply lines as to provide an interlocking system so that the lock pins 49, 50 may not be advanced or withdrawn unless the door 11 is in lowered position, and the door 11 cannot be raised unless the lock pins 49, 50 have been withdrawn. For example as shown in Fig. 5, the cylinder 34 may be controlled by a hand operated reversing valve 60 and lthe cylinder 48 controlled by a hand operated reversing valve 61. A normally closed valve 62 mounted on the hinge bracket 30 in a position to be opened by a stop 63 attached to the rod 36 may be connected between the fluid pressure supply line 64 and the supply port of valve 61. The arrangement is such that except when the rod 36 is in its lowermost position, pressure supply to valve 61 is shut off and lock rod 49 may not be moved in either direction.

A similar normally closed valve 65 may be mounted on the autoclave in a position to be opened by a stop 66 on rod 49 and may be connected between the fiuid pressure supply line 64 and the supply port of valve 60. The arrangement is such that except when rod 49 is withdrawn from the apertures 28, Z9 of the locking ring members, no uid pressure is supplied to valve 60 and cylinder 34 and the door 11 cannot be raised.

With the locking rod 49 withdrawn, valve 65 is opened and the door may be raised or lowered by operating reversing valve 50, and with the door lowered, which opens valve 62, locking rod 49 may be advanced or withdrawn by operating reversing valve 61. One valve 61 may be used for operating both cylinders controlling locking pins 49 and 50 in unison.

The operation of the apparatus will be apparent from the above description.

Variations may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as it is defined by the following claims:

I claim:

1. A door mounting for an autoclave or the like said door mounting comprising an annular member secured to the autoclave to define a door opening, an annular member secured to the periphery of the door for sealing engagement with the first said member, said members each having in opposite portions separated by a diameter thereof a semi-annular radial outwardly directed ange and a semi-annular radial inwardly open groove for engaging the other by sliding movement across said door opening in a direction perpendicular to said diameter, hinge brackets secured to said autoclave with their hinge axis perpendicular to said diameter and to one side of the door opening, hinge brackets on said door in alignment with the first said brackets, a hinge pin mounted through aligned apertures of all said brackets and supporting said door for swinging movement, and power operated means associated with said hinge pin for moving said door across said door opening for engaging and disengaging said flanges and grooves.

2. A door mounting for an autoclave or the like said door mounting comprising an annular member secured t-o the autoclave to define a door opening, an annular member secured to the periphery of the door for sealing engagement with the rst said member, said members each having in opposite portions separated by a diameter thereof a semi-annular radial outwardly directed flange and a semi-annular radial inwardly open groove for engaging the other by sliding movement across said door opening in a direction perpendicular to said diameter, hinge brackets secured to said autoclave with their hinge axis perpendicular to said diameter and to one side of the door opening, hinge brackets on said door in alignment with the first said brackets, a hinge pin mounted through aligned apertures of all said brackets and supporting said door for swinging movement, and a fluid pressure operated cylinder associated with said hinge pin for moving said door across said door opening for engaging and disengaging said fianges and grooves.

3. A door mounting for an autoclave or the like said door mounting comprising an annular member secured to the autoclave to define a door opening, an annular member secured to the periphery of the door for sealing engagement with the first said member, said members each having in opposite portions separated by a diameter thereof a semi-annular radial outwardly directed flange and a semi-annular radial inwardly open groove for engaging the other by sliding movement across said door opening in a direction perpendicular to said diameter, hinge brackets secured to said autoclave with their hinge axis perpendicular to said diameter and to one side of the door opening, hinge brackets on said door in alignment with the first said brackets, a hinge pin mounted through aligned apertures of all said brackets and supporting said door for swinging movement, said hinge pin having a piston secured thereto, a single acting uid pressure cylinder about said piston for moving said door across said door opening for engaging and disengaging said iianges and grooves.

4. A door mounting for an autoclave or the like said door mounting comprising an annular member secured to the autoclave to define a door opening, an annular member secured to the periphery of the door for sealing engagement with the rst said member, said members each having in opposite portions separated by a diameter thereof a semi-annular radial outwardly directed flange and a semi-annular radial inwardly open groove for engaging the other by sliding movement across said door opening in a direction perpendicular to said diameter, hinge brackets secured to said autoclave with their hinge axis perpendicular to said diameter and to one side of the door opening, hinge brackets on said door in alignment with the first said brackets, a hinge pin mounted through aligned apertures of all said brackets and supporting said door for swinging movement, means for moving said door axially of said hinge axis `to permit passing of the interengaging flanges during a hinging movement, the brackets of one of said members having apertures larger than said hinge pin and encompassing it, and means adjustably mounted on the last said brackets and engaging said hinge pin within said apertures forproviding aligning adjustment of said door and said opening.

5. A door mounting for an autoclave or the like said door mounting comprising an annular member secured to the autoclave to define a door opening, an annular member secured to the periphery of the door for sealing engagement with the first said member, said members each having in opposite portions separated by a diameter thereof a semi-annular radial outwardly directed flange and a semi-annular radial inwardly open groove for engaging the other by sliding movement across said door opening in a direction perpendicular to said diameter,

:af/sassi;

hinge brackets secured to said autoclave with their hinge axis perpendicular to said diameter and to one side of the door opening, hinge brackets on said door in alignment with `the rst said brackets, a hinge pin mounted through aligned apertures of all said brackets and supporting said door for swinging movement, means for moving said door axially of said hinge axis to permit passing of the interengaging flanges during a llinging movement, the brackets of one of said members having apertures larger than said hinge pin and encompassing it, and sets of centering means adjustably mounted on the last said brackets and engaging said hinge pin within said apertures for providing aligning adjustment of said door and said opening.

6. A door mounting for an autoclave or the like, said door mounting comprising an annular member of rollforged material secured to the autoclave to define a door opening, an annular member of roll-forged material secured about the periphery of the door for sealing engagement with the first said member, each of said members having a radially inwardly directed annular groove in its periphery spaced from its sealing face to define an outwardly directed ange therebetween, a pair of semiannular locking ring members of U-shaped cross section, each locking ring member being of roll-forged material and having one of its parallel flanges secured in a groove of one of said annular members by welding and its opposite flange spaced from the sealing face of that member to provide a groove extending about substantially one half circumference for receiving the outwardly directed flange of the other annular member, said annular members being engageable with each other by relative movement cross wise of said opening in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the meeting ends of said semiannular locking ring members, hinge members for hinging said door lto said autoclave for swinging movement about an axis perpendicular to said plane of the meeting ends, said hinge members engaging a hinge pin secured to at least one of said hinge members, and power operated means associated with said hinge pin for moving it axially to provide such relative crosswise movement. 7. A door mounting for an autoclave or the like, said door mounting comprising an annular frame member secured to the autoclave about an opening therein, an annular door member secured 4to the periphery of the door for seating engagement with the first said member, said members being interlockingly engageable with one another by sliding movement of one across the other by reason of semi-annular mating grooves and anges on said members, said door member being also hinged to said frame member for swinging movement toward and from said frame member about an axis parallel -to the direction of such sliding movement, means on the hinge mechanism for moving said door axially of the hinge axis in said sliding movement, a locking pin for holding the member against such sliding movement, and uid pressure means for providing sliding movement of said door and locking and unlocking movements of said locking pin, said uid pressure means having interlocking control valves to prevent withdrawal of said locking pin except in the mating position of said door and frame members and to prevent sliding movement of said door member when said locking pin is in locking position,

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,352,192 Sasche June 27, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS 366,697 Grea-t Britain Feb. 11, 1932 629,043 Great Britain Sept. 9, 1949 

